Coin-controlled apparatus.



A. L. NEVBLS.

(JOIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

APPLIGATIDN FILED JULY 30,1906.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

2 SHEBTSSHBET 1.

A. L. NEVELS. 00m CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30,1906.

1,035,224. Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PA TENT OFFICE.

ANTHONY L. NEVELS, 0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO THE NEVELS MANUFACTURING CODTPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTL CUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

COIN-CONTROLLED APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, ANTHONY L. NEvELs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Coin-Controlled Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to the class of devices the use of which is controlled by the insertion of coins, tokens or the like, and the object of my invention is to provide a device of this class in which a single coin chute, or place of deposit for the coins or tokens of different character may be used to obtain various results in the operation of the machine.

A form of device in the use of which this object may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view of a portion of the op erating mechanism of a vending or like machine showing coin mechanism embodying my invention applied thereto, parts being out in section to show construction, a portion only of the ejector mechanism being shown owing to scale of parts. Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation of the coin mechanism, the coin holders being removed. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the coin levers. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the lower portion of the coin chute, partly broken away to show construction. Fig. 5 is a detail front view of the lower end of the coin levers, the end of the main lever being cut off. Fig. 6 is a sectional View of a portion of a device embodying my improvement, this view illustrating the ejector mechanism which is omitted from Fig. 1 on account of the scale of the drawing. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the means for arresting a slug or the like to be ejected from the coin chute.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 1 denotes the main operating lever of a vending machine, pivotally mounted as at 2. This lever may be operated in any manner common to vending devices, as by a push or pull rod or the like. Such, however, has been omitted from the drawing herein as not being essential to a full understanding of the invention. It may be stated, however, that my device is especially applicable to a bag punching machine, and its application in connection with such a device is shown in Specification of Letters Eatent.

Application fi1ed July 30, 1908.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

Serial No. 328,289.

a pending application to such a device filed by me concurrently herewith of Serial Number 328,288. The use of the device, however, in any vending machine is contemplated by me.

The numeral 3 denotes a case or coin receptacle having openings 4 and 5 in the walls thereof. The lever 1 projects through the opening 5 into the case, and the lower end of a coin chute 6 projects downward through the case and through the opening 4. This single coin chute is adapted to receive coins of different character which by reason of their different characteristics as to form, size or the like, constitute connectors which may be inserted through a single opening, not shown herein, and by which they are delivered through the passage 7 to the coin operating levers.

There are two coin operated levers 8 and 9 which. are pivotally mounted between ears 10 projecting from the coin chute 6. The lever 9 has a groove 11 extending longitudinally thereof on one side, and an opening 12 at the lower end extending completely through it. The lever 8 is pivoted within the groove 11 and its lower end has an opening 13 through which the hood 14 of the main lever 1 is adapted to pass.

The coin chute (i is provided at its lower end with a coin receiving chamber 15 that is gradually contracted toward the end as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. A coin of the least diameter traversed along the passage will be arrested in the narrower part of the chamber 15, resting upon the hook 14, such coin being designated by the dotted lines a in Figs. 1 and 2. At this point the coin is in position to pass underneath the end of the lever 9, its upper edge passing through the lower part of the opening 12 therein. In Fig. 2 of the drawings the front edge of the lower end of the prongs produced by the opening 12 is shown by dotted lines, and as the lever 1 is swung on a circle described from its pivot the hook 14 carries the coin below the lowest edge of said prong shown in full lines in said Fig. 2. As the lever 1 is thus swung the coin passes through between the prongs of the lever 9, tilting the lever 8 on its pivot, the lever 9 remaining stationary. If a larger coin b traverse the passage 7 it will rest at a point higher up, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

In this position it overlies both of the levers, and as the hook it is moved in the swinging ot' the lever 1, both coin levers are tilted on their pivots.

A spring 16 may be employed to hold the lever 8 normally within the groove 9, exceptwhen pressure is applied to swing said lever 8 on its pivot.

@perating rods 17 and 18 extend from the levers 9 and 8 respectively. These rods may be suitably connected with any suitable mechanism, as slides or the like, for permitting proper use of the machine. In my co-pending application hereinbefore referred to the lever 17 only is employed, and in the device shown in said application it will be readily seen that different uses of the device is permitted by the employment of coins or tokens of difierent character.

While .1 have shown herein a means of actuatii'ig the two levers by the aid of a contracted opening in the coin chute, in which coins of ditlerent size as to diameter are employed, it will be obvious that other means for operating the levers by the employment of coins of dilterent size may be utilized without departing from the invention. It will also be obvious to those skilled in the art that the number of levers may be multiplied and separately or cojointly used by the employment of coins or tokens of ditl erent character without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention.

Coin holders 19 are secured to the lower end. of the coin lever 8, these consisting preferably of strips of spring metal having at their lower ends projecting parts torining rests 20 between which a coin is held. As the main lever 1 is swung on its pivot and consequently the levers 8 and 9 swung on their pivot it will be noted that the hook on the lever 1 describing the greater circle will be gradually withdrawn from engagement with the coin which is thus freed and allowed to drop into the box 8.

In the term vending as employed in the specification and claims herein is to be understood the results obtained from such machine, whether this be the obtaining of articles therefrom, or the purchase of the use of the machine for any purpose, as for instance, such use as described in my copending application hereinbelore reterred to.

The main lever 1 has a stop shoulder 30 arranged to strike the end of the lever 8 when the latter is in its position of rest. It will be noted, however, that the lever 1 has a certain limited movement before it strikes the end of said lever.

An ejector lever 31 is mounted on a pivot 32 and has a cam slot engaging a pin 34.: on the main lever 1.. An ejector 35 secured to the lever 31 is arranged to project through an opening 36 in the coin chute 6.

A magnet 37 is placed adjacent to the opening 36, and the ejector 35 in its swinging movement, passes between the arms of the magnet, which is preferably 01' the horseshoe form. A slug or the like of iron or like metal having been inserted in the pas sage 7, s it arrives opposite the magnet will be drawn against it and prevented from further downward movement along the passage. An attempt being now made to operate the machine the main lever 1 will be moved until the shoulder 30 engages the end of the lever 8 and the cam slot will cause the ejector to pass through the I opening in the magnet and in the coin chute and force the slug from its position on the magnet, from which it will be discharged into the coin box. This prevents illegal use of the machine by means of slugs or like devices of iron or similar metal.

l l hile 1 have shown and described here in the connector for the coin lever as a part distinct and separate from the device, 1 contemplate as within the invention a connector or connectors not necessarily so constituted.

hat 1 claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a vending machine, means for operating the vending apparatus, a coin lever connected with said means, a second coin I lever mounted for operative connection with the first, and a main operating device arranged to operate, through the interposition of coins of different character, either or both of said levers, and a single coin chute ar ranged to present coins of ditl erent charact-er to said levers.

2. In a vending machine, means for con trolling the vending apparatus, a plural number of coin levers connected with said means, a main device arranged to operate,

by the interposition of coins of different character, one or a plural number of said levers, and a single coin chute arranged to conduct coins of different character to said levers.

3. In a vending machine, means for controlling the vending apparatus, a pivotally mounted coin lever connected therewith, a second pivotally mounted lever mounted for operative connection with the first-mentioned lever, a main operating device, arranged by the interposition of coins of difterent character to actuate either or both of said levers, and a single coin chute arranged to conduct coins of ditlierent character to said coin levers.

4t. In a vending machine, means for operating the vending apparatus, grooved coin lever connected with said means, a second coin lever mounted within said groove and connected with. said means, a main operating device arranged through the interposi tion of coins of ditlerent character to operate either or both of said levers, and a single coin chute arranged to conduct said. coins to said levers.

5. In a vending machine, means for operating the vending mechanism, a pivotally mounted grooved coin lever connected with said means, a second coin lever pivo-tally mounted within said groove and connected with said means, a main operating device arranged, through the interposition of coins of different character, to operate either or both of said levers, and a single coinchute arranged to conduct said coins to said levers.

6. In a vending machine, means for operating the vending mechanism, a. plural number of pivotallv mounted coin-levers, one supported within the other and operatively connected with said means, a main operating device for actuating, by the interposition of coins of different characters, one or more of said levers, and a single coin chute for conducting coins of diiterent character to said levers.

7. In a vending apparatus, means for actuating the vending mechanism, a grooved coin lever connected therewith and having an opening at its lower end, a pivotally mounted coin lever supported within said groove to swing through said opening, a single operating device arranged to operate through the interposition of coins of different character, either or both of said levers, and a single coin chute arranged to conduct said coins to said levers.

8. In a vending machine, means for operating the vending mechanism, a plural number of coin levers, connections between a lever and said means, a main actuating device for operating said levers through the interposition of a connector, and a coin chute having a single passage arranged to conduct and having means to arrest coins of different character in difierent positions with respect to all of said levers and to operate the lever designed to be operated by a coin of a given character.

9. In a vending machine, means for actuating the vending mechanism, a plural number of coin levers, connections between a lever and said means, a main actuating de vice for actuating, through the interposition of coins of ditierent character, said levers, and a single coin chute having a coin passage contracted toward its lower end.

10. In a vending machine, means for operating the vending mechanism, a plural number of coin levers, connections between a coin lever and said means, a main operating device tor actuating said levers through the interposition of a connector, and a coin chute having a single passage for guiding all of the connectors and contracted in width toward its lower end to arrest a coin in position to operate the lever designated for a coin of that character.

11. In a vending machine, means for operating the vending mechanism, a plural number of coin levers, one pivotally supported within another, connections between a coin lever and said means, a main actuating device for operating said levers, and a single coin chute contracted in width toward its lower end for conducting coins of different character to said coin levers to arrest a coin in position to operate the lever designated for a coin of that character.

12. In a vending machine, means for actuating the vending mechanism, a pivotally mounted grooved coin lever having an opening at its lower end, a pivotally mounted coin lever supported within said groove and having an opening at. its lower end, a main actuating device having its end arranged to pass through the openings in the lower end of the coin levers, and connections between a lever and said means, and a single coin chute arranged to conduct coins of different character to all of said levers and to operate the lever designed to be operated by a coin of a different character.

13. In a vending machine, means for actuating the vending mechanism, a pivotally mounted grooved coin lever, a pivotally mounted coin lever supported within said groove, connections between a coin lever and said means, each of said levers having openings in their lower end, a main actuating device having its end arranged to pass through said openings, and a single coin chute having a coin passage contracted toward its lower end to conduct coins of different character to said coin levers and to operate the lever designed to be operated by a coin of a difi erent character.

14. Ina vending machine, means for operating the vending mechanism, a grooved pivotally mounted coin lever having an opening in its lower end, a grooved pivotally mounted coin lever supported within said groove, connections between a lever and said means, a main actuating pivoted device having a hook adapted to pass through said openings and arranged to receive a coin, and a single coin chute contracted in width toward its lower end and arranged to conduct coins of difierent character to said coin levers and to operate the lever designed to be operated by a coin of a difierent character.

15. In a vending machine, means for controlling the vending apparatus, a plural number of movable coin operating levers, a main operating device arranged to be arrested in its movement by one of said levers, but having a limited movement independently thereof, and a coin. chute adapted to conduct coins to said coin levers and in the path of movement of said operating devlce.

16. In a vending machine, means for operating the vending mechanism, a plural All" numher of coin levers, connections between one of said levers and said means, a main actuating device for operating said levers, and a single coin chute arranged to conduct coins of ditlercnt character to all. of said. coin levers and having means to arrest the coins depending upon their character for operation with a certain lever.

17. In a vending machine, means for actuating the vending mechanism, a plural n1nnher of coin levers one pivotallv supported within the other, connections between one of said coin levers and said means, a main actuating device for operating said levers, and a single coin chute arranged to conduct coins of? different character to all of said levers and having means to arrest said coins depending upon their chara rter for operation with a certain lever.

18. in a vending machine, means for controlling the vending apparatus, a plural number of movable coin members connected with said means, a main device arranged to operate by the interposition of coins of different character one or more of said tremhers, and a single coin. chute arranged to conduct coins of different character to said coin members.

19. In a vending machine, means for opcrating;- the vending; apparatus, a grooved coin lever connected with said means, a second coin lever mounted within said groove, a main operating device arranged through the interposition of coins of ditlerent character to operate either or both of said levers, and a single coin chute arranged to conduct said coins to said levers,

20. In a vending machine, means for actuating the vending mechanism, a plural number of coin levers, connections between a lever and said means, a main actuating device for actuating, through the interposition of coins of dillerent character, said levers, and a single coin chute to conduct coins to said levers.

AN'lHONY L. NEVELS.

Ni tnesses ARTHUR B. JENKINS, LENA E. BERKOVITCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

